Fastening device for a snowboard brake
A fastening device or removable brake device (4) on a snowboard comprises an active braking part in the form of a movable brake heel that is flexibly joined to a base section arranged on the snowboard. The base section and the snowboard each include structure that allows the base section to slide to the intended position on the snowboard and structure, which in a retaining manner, locks the base section in place on the snowboard.
The present invention concerns a fastening device for a snowboard brake.
The normal method of preventing a snowboard from running away when the user takes it off is to fasten it with a strap. A disadvantage in using a strap is that it can fasten to protruding objects in the snow and that riders think it is difficult to use. Previously known are also brakes that can be operated with the rider's foot and are activated when the rider takes it off. A normal method of fastening is to screw the brake device to the snowboard, either between the bindings or under one of the bindings. One disadvantage with this type of brake device is that its position is fixed and cannot be adjusted. This means the brake device will not move when necessary and may damage the snowboard if the brake is mounted on the snowboard. Brakes that are integrated in the bindings are also known. The disadvantage with this type is that the rotation of the bindings is limited in relation to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard and that individual choice of brake location is not possible without modifying the position of the bindings. Another disadvantage is that in some cases the bindings can break away from the snowboard, which means that the function of a brake integrated with the binding loses its effect and the snowboard can still run away down the hill.
The position of the brake device may need adjustment for example when the rider wishes to adjust the foot angle and thereby the binding angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. This means that the position of the brake must also be adjusted as it is operated by one foot. Another example is where rental snowboards are available and many different riders will be using the same snowboard and a number of different brake positions will be required. A degree of simplicity when adjusting snowboard equipment, such as bindings and brakes, is necessary as it must be done in as short a time as possible and in a simple and flexible manner.
One object with the present invention is to achieve a fastening device for a removable brake device on a snowboard, which is easy to use and mount, and eases or completely remedies the aforesaid disadvantages. Another object is to achieve a fastening device that is cost-efficient and simple in design.
These objects are attained with a fastening device exhibiting the characteristics specified in claim 1.
The invention is described more fully in the following with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate examples of selected embodiments, where
A snowboard 1 is designed with two short sides and two long sides 2, 2′. On the snowboard 1 is one binding 3 for each foot. The bindings 3 are usually arranged more or less transverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard 1 at a suitable distance from each other. This position means the rider is facing to one side of the snowboard 1 instead of straight ahead as is the case with normal skiing. The bindings 3 are also designed so that the rider can rotate the binding 3 in relation to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard 1. This is so that it is possible to obtain an individual angle for the feet in relation to the angle of attack of the snowboard 1 to the gradient of the hill. The brake 4 must be moved forward or back depending on the degree of rotation of the binding 3.
In one embodiment, as shown in
The brake device 4 comprises a base section 11 with a pair of rotatable locking washers 8, 8′ with protruding catches as shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
The locking washer 8, 8′, as shown in
In another alternative embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
When mounting the brake device, one end of the groove 24 on the base section 11 of the brake device 4 is positioned to the end of the runner 21, after which the brake device 4 slides along the runner 21 in the direction of the arrow as shown in
The different embodiments described above can be varied in several different ways. Important with respect to the design of the guide and the means of locking is that they are designed so that the locking means has a shape that corresponds with the guide and which allows an adjustable fitting of one inside the other, between end positions extending past at least the entire length of the front binding 3, irrespective of whether the guide is arranged in the snowboard 1 or in the base section 11 of the brake device 4 and, after the brake device 4 has been given the desired position, the possibility of locking it effectively.
The present invention is not limited to the above description and as illustrated in the drawings but can be changed and modified in a number of different ways within the framework of the idea of invention specified in the following claims.
Claims
1. Device for fitting a brake device (4) to a snowboard (1), the brake device (4) comprising an active braking part in the form of a movable brake heel (10) that is flexibly joined to the base section (11) arranged on the snowboard (1), characterised in that the base section (11) and the snowboard (1) each comprises means (5, 8, 8′, 9, 21, 24) that allow the base section (11) to slide to the intended position on the snowboard (1) and means (19, 25), which in a retaining manner, lock the base section (11) in place on the snowboard (1).
2. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the means (5, 8, 8′, 9, 21, 24) comprise a male and a female part respectively in the form of a continuous groove (5, 9, 24) and adjustable locking washers (8, 8′, 21) in the groove.
3. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the means (19, 25) secure the locking washers (8, 8′, 21) in the groove (5, 9, 24) through a clamping interaction with the base section (11) and the snowboard (1).
4. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove (5, 9, 21, 24) extending at least past the entire length of one binding (3).
5. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove (5, 9, 21, 24) is arranged in conjunction with one of the long sides (2, 2′) of the snowboard (1).
6. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove (5, 9) is designed with a cross-section exhibiting a shape and dimension corresponding to the locking washer (8, 8′).
7. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove (5) comprises a continuous recess in the top of the snowboard.
8. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove is formed of a strip (9) glued or in some other way affixed to the top of the snowboard (1).
9. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the locking washers (8, 8′) are arranged to the side of the base (11) of the brake device (4), which is facing the snowboard (1).
10. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the locking washers (8, 8′) are arranged to the top of the snowboard (1).
11. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the groove (18, 24) is arranged to the base section (11) of the brake device (4) and comprises a cross-section corresponding to the shape of the locking washer (8, 8′, 21).
12. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the locking washers (8, 8′) comprise locking pins (13), the locking washers (8, 8′) being mounted on the snowboard (1) with threaded inserts (17) arranged in depressions on the top of the snowboard (1).
13. Device in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that the threaded inserts (17) are arranged in pairs at a distance from each other at the front binding seen in the direction of riding.
14. Device in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that the threaded inserts (17) are arranged in pairs on both sides of the respective binding (3).
15. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the locking washer comprises a continuous runner (21) with an I-shaped cross-section arranged with its base (22′) on the top of the snowboard (1).
16. Device in accordance with with claim 14, characterised in that the base (11) of the brake device (4) is arranged with a continuous through groove (18) with a cross-section corresponding to the I-shaped runner (21).
17. Device in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the strip (9) and runner (21) comprise an elastic compliant material.
18. Device in accordance with claim 16, characterised in that the strip comprises a polymeric material.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 4, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 6, 2006
Inventor: Jon Backlund (Umea)
Application Number: 10/526,157
International Classification: A63C 5/00 (20060101);